LEXINGTON - Despite an undefeated 10-0 regular season and a No. 1 seed going into the 2016 Class 2A state playoffs, the Adamsville Cardinals were upset by the fourth-seeded Scotts Hill Lions in the first round.

Yet, eleventh-year head coach Brandon Gray says the Cardinals are not preparing differently to start the 2017 season.

“No, we are doing the same thing to prepare going into the season,” said Gray. “Last season, we just had too many injuries. We had six or seven guys out by that last game, including two running backs and one of those was an all-stater who went down before the season started. We were really down as the playoffs started.”

Gray says that the keys to the 2017 season lie in his team staying healthy and developing leadership.

“This year, we just need to try and stay healthier this year and develop some depth," he said. "We are trying to aid that in practice by getting more players repetitions and experience so some of those other guys are better ready and prepared to step up when it is game time.”

According to Gray, leadership has proven little more elusive for Adamsville as the 2017 season home opener Friday with a playoff-experienced Bolivar team nears.

Despite having all of his linemen back on both sides of the ball and most of his receiving corps, Gray says that he only has one captain ready to start the season instead of his usual eight captains.

“We have got to find some leadership,” Gray said. “We had a good group last year – three of them were even captains as juniors. But right now, nobody has stepped up yet, and you just don’t give (captain) out. It is something that is earned.”

Junior Colin Misenhiemer says the transition to quarterback for the Cardinals this year has been good.

“I have been playing quarterback most of my life, but last year, actually was probably harder because it the first year that I ever really played varsity defense," Misenhiemer said. "Now that I am playing quarterback again, I just have to keep working and trying to get better.”

Misenhiemer recognizes the team’s need for developing leadership as well.

“In order for us to be successful this year, we have to keep working hard and getting better, but most importantly, we have to play as a team and develop some selflessness. We have a tougher schedule this year so we are going to have to prepare better and be tougher.”

And about that opener with Bolivar, Gray added, "I don’t think we have ever faced a team with two Big 12 commits before. But, we are going to go out and do our best. We will work hard at getting ready to face them.”